| The environmental trend is stealing headlines all | | | | Energy savings is always as hot topic and one |
| over the world. People are finally realizing the | | | | that was always assumed to be wasted in hotels. |
| damage that is being done to the environment | | | | Lights were left on all the time and bulbs were |
| and are starting to change the way things are | | | | bright and energy wasting. Today, hotels rarely |
| done at home and the business world. The travel | | | | have unused rooms lit up and have gone the way |
| industry is no different and a positive | | | | of energy efficient lighting to try and cut down on |
| environmental trend is sweeping through the hotel | | | | their bills. This all adds up to enormous amounts of |
| industry as a whole. | | | | energy that is now being saved instead of |
| Not so long ago using renewable energy and | | | | wasted. |
| having a recycling program were not profitable | | | | While most neighborhoods started recycling years |
| things to do. Because of this Corporate America | | | | ago, not all hotels were with the program. There |
| was not willing to jump in with both feet. While | | | | was a time when the back of a hotel looked |
| there were some companies that did this anyway | | | | more like a trash dump than anything else. Unless |
| (and they should be applauded), others were | | | | you have worked in one, it is hard to imagine the |
| waiting to see where the environmental trend | | | | amount of waste that is generated each and |
| would lead before they started to make changes. | | | | every day. Drive in the back of the hotel today |
| The travel industry, specifically the hotel niche of | | | | and it is an organized area that has all of their |
| it, was infamous for literally pouring money down | | | | trash separated for recycling. |
| the drain. There was literally tons of unnecessary | | | | Hotels have always had brightly lit parking lots and |
| laundry being done every day that was not only | | | | extra signage up to let people know that they are |
| costing the hotel owners a lot of money, but was | | | | open for business. While this is understandable, it |
| using unnecessary energy and water as well. | | | | has also been excessive. Solar trees are popping |
| Over the last few years, this whole process has | | | | up all over the place to replace standard parking |
| changed for the better. | | | | lot lighting and more and more hotels are making |
| When a guest checks into their room today, they | | | | use of perimeter solar lighting to light pool areas |
| are going to see something that is not even close | | | | and such that used to burn standard bulbs. |
| to what it was as little as 10 years ago. Hotels will | | | | When the corporate world steps up and makes a |
| now usually have signs up that suggests to | | | | statement that it is time to start saving energy, |
| guests to keep their towels for an extra day or | | | | people tend to take notice. The trickledown |
| to keep the sheets on instead of having them | | | | effect is enormous as ideas get put into the |
| changed out every day. It is impossible to | | | | heads of guests and staff alike. It is great to |
| understand the impact that this immediately has | | | | finally see the travel industry have and promote a |
| on energy and water consumption. | | | | healthier environmental trend. |